Review: Apple MacBook

Ars reviews the new MacBook, and concludes: “Apple’s new consumer level laptop is full of new features (iSight, widescreen display, MagSafe power connector, optical audio connections, etc.) and the prices are reasonable. Apple has thrust themselves back into a state of competitiveness when it comes to the consumer laptop space, and even offers prospective users features that other computer manufacturers cannot. Someone who buys a Dell or HP laptop cannot legally or easily boot OS X and Windows, and other laptops just don’t look as good (your mileage may vary).”

Just don’t believe that Intel integrated graphics suck as much as people describe them. “GMA900/950 are slow” is a meme in my opinion. They are not gaming GPUs but they work well enough in most situations. It’s not only Macs, I’ve seen some modern (2 years old) games run on GMA900 and it performed ok.

If they gave it some dedicated RAM, I wouldn’t have an issue with it being integrated. I don’t play games, but c’mon, going from dedicated RAM for the video to shared is a step backwards IMO, regardless of the performance of the chip.

D3M0N – Go to an Apple store and actually use one and THEN tell us how bad it is. Actually you’ll be telling us how good it is. Forget that it is integrated and sharing ram. If nobody had told you, you never would never realized it.

I am not saying the performance is bad! All I am saying is the lack of dedicated RAM is a step backwards compared to the older ones with dedicated graphics. Yes, the performance is still MUCH, MUCH, MUCH better, but you have less available system RAM. So would I notice, you bet. I also don’t care that its integrated – did you read what I even wrote???

I don’t think it’s a step backwards, it’s just a step cheaper. If dedicated ram for the GPU is faster (accessible), ok that would be a reason to have it dedicated.

But if it’s only about the amount of RAM available, it is even a step forward! Because if the OS is nice, it can define itself, how much RAM is spent to the graphics card (MacOS X can’t). So if you have a 256 MB graphics card, that’s a big waste if you don’t have graphic intense stuff running..

But, if you have the same memory shared, _and_ the 256 MB are additionally in main memory, you even gain main memory most times.

The cheapy thing lies in that although some memory is used for the GPU, the manufacturer didn’t spend more memory to the whole system, as he should. Still, this is not the fault of the memory sharing technique.

Intel has actually created a pretty good chipset for use doing GUI, MPEG etc.. sure its not great at 60fps 3D Gaming, but its good enough for video/photo editing and providing a very snappy and attractive desktop.

heck yeah, I can attest that’s it’s less than very useless outdoor,s on a sunny day. my work’s campus has excellent wireless throughout, it’d be nice to take the PB outside sometime and do my work while enjoying some fresh air. helps if you can clearly make out the screen however…

I thought the exact same when I saw a picture of the black MacBook but something hit me when I read that review. Compared to the MacBook, the iBook looks clunky. I’m typing this on an iBook right now and even now (this is about 2.5 years old), my iBook still looks miles more elegant than most laptops. Next time I’m near a computer shop, I’ll have to have a look at a MacBook in person.

I’m not sure how such engineering issues can get past any quality tests. This is a pretty elementary mistake that any PC assembler should know about.

This has to be some kind of panic solution that has been done in order to keep the fan from running to keep Steve happy, although even this theory is seriously doubtful. Apple would drown in dead Macbooks in a few months if they are to continue this mistake.

Let’s hope these Macbooks are just an early production run and that the error has been corrected.

– They are doing the same thermal paste mistake on the MB as on the MBP.

– The service manual indicates the same excessive amount of paste as in the MBP manual.

It’s been said before, but it really bears repeating that such a basic mistake is completely inexcusable. I don’t have a single hour of formal training in computer hardware, but I was still able a proper job of installing a heatsink + CPU the first time. Even if you’re almost entirely ignorant of the process, as I was, it’s really not that hard – five minutes of Google’ing and 20 minutes of reading should be more than enough.

I find it absolutely mind boggling that a tech writer authoring a service manual could be that clueless – not only that, but it would appear that his/her editor is equally clueless.

I then ran two instances of this script in order to peg both processor cores. The system would step the speed of the processor up to 1.833GHz until the processor crossed a threshold of approximately 82°C at which point it would step the processor down to 1.667GHz.[/i]

Yah, that is very hot. My Powerbook typically runs at around 45C in mid afternoon under a workload. Right now, while its around mid 60s in my house, and just browing the internet its only running at 29C! I can’t imagine my Powerbook ever getting to 80/82C. Only 20C away from boiling

It’s a Rev. A product though, so hopefully this “problem” may be resolved by “Rev. B”. I hope that Apple isn’t starting to put shear performance before comfort and ‘usability’ I guess you could say. I don’t think that is the case though, as it does seem there is some type of issue going on with the thermal paste.

This is a truly terrific laptop and I want to buy one immediately. However, I’m only going to buy if:

EITHER:

a) The dealer, while I am watching, opens the laptop, cleans all the excessive gobs of thermal paste off all three affected chips (processor, graphic chip and northbridge) and then applies a minimal amount of high-quality thermal paste (e.g. ArcticSilver 5) correctly.

OR:

b) The dealer gives me an assurance in writing that I will not void my warranty if I open the laptop, clean the chips and apply the thermal paste correctly myself.

The thermal paste situation is not something minor. These laptops have been assembled incorrectly and they are running 20°C too hot, which will reduce the life of the affected chips and cause slow performance due to throttling, quite apart from being uncomfortable and simply plain bad workmanship.

If I can get a MacBook that is assembled correctly so that it runs at the correct temperature without voiding my warranty I will buy one immediately. If I can’t, I won’t. I love Apple hardware but my love doesn’t go so far that I’m willing to buy defective merchandise.